The number of mobile phones added in India over the last 2.5 years equals the population of Italy or France, according to Minister of Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad.

He said that 72 mobile manufacturing factories were added during the last two years in India.

The Minister also said that the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) should be involved in the government-organised training on the Goods and Services Tax.

“The thinking behind Digital India is that the common man gets empowered,” Mr. Prasad said at the inauguration of a new centre for NIELIT.

“It is not for the rich but for the poor. In the last 2.5 years, we have added as many phones as the population of Italy and France. And 72 mobile manufacturing factories have been set up in the last two years. So, India is emerging as a mobile manufacturing hub,” the Minister said.

“If need be, I will speak to Finance Minister to see how NIELIT can be incorporated into the GST training being imparted.” Mr. Prasad said.

Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice P.P. Chaudhary highlighted the importance of digital literacy for the progress of the nation. “The entire e-governance and service on demand system will not be successful without digital literacy,” Mr.Chaudhary said.

“NIELIT is doing work in providing all training and education from digital literacy to PhD. NIELIT is very important for e-governance, service on demand, infrastructure, and education.”

Mr. Chaudhary also asked the officials at the function whether the online educational material NIELIT has made available can also be made accessible offline so people in poorly-connected areas can download the material.